70: Robert Lewandowski, Borussia Dortmund, Poland; age 24; forward

There are more prolific strikers than the Pole, who has been averaging a goal every two games since moving from Lech Poznan in 2010. But he is truly in a league of his own when it comes to holding up the ball, making intelligent runs and linking up with the attacking midfielders. His former team-mate Nuri Sahin nicknamed him "The Body" for his athletic build and Franck Ribéry described him as "Dortmund's most important player". The Premier League beckons. Raphael Honigstein

69: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, St Etienne, Gabon; age 23; forward

A move to Milan when he was 19 proved premature but now, at 23, the Gabonese is showing the benefits of playing regularly and producing the same form at club level that made him a star of this year's Africa Cup of Nations. His excellent performances for Saint Etienne make another move to a top club inevitable for this lively forward. Was once invited to play for Italy Under-19s after a good season when on loan at Dijon, but he ended up playing for France at Under-21 level. Paul Doyle

68: Mathieu Valbuena, Marseille, France; age 28; midfielder

Rejected by Bordeaux as a teenager on the grounds that he was supposedly too small ever to make it as a footballer, Valbuena showed characteristic doggedness to succeed and is now recognised as one of the most impressive playmakers on European pitches. He has long been the creator-in-chief of Marseille and now Didier Deschamps has put him in the heart of France's midfield. Scored against England at Wembley in 2010. Paul Doyle

67: Mario Balotelli, Manchester City, Italy; age 22; forward

A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigmatic ego. The complexities of Balotelli continue to make him a frustrating talent. His qualities when harnessed mark him out as a striker of exceptional promise, but it is the job of harnessing that has people pulling their hair out. He is still only 22, with Champions League, Serie A, Premier League and FA Cup titles already in his locker, but Roberto Mancini seems to be losing patience with him. Amy Lawrence

66: Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich, Holland; age 28; midfielder/forward

In the past three years Arjen Robben has lost two Champions League finals and wasted the best chance in a World Cup final. The winger epitomises the Dutch tendency to impress technically, before failing when the pressure is on, although he has won league titles in four countries. He remains injury prone, but when Robben is on fire, he is devastating. In March he scored seven goals and collected four assists in three Bayern games. Michael Cox

65: Joe Hart, Manchester City, England; age 25; goalkeeper

Joe Hart has endured an erratic few months, making several big-game blunders that have called his reputation into question. These should not be glossed over, but what has made them stand out so much is the fact that he had so often seemed near to flawless before this jittery spell. Ever since his early days at Shrewsbury Town and Birmingham City he has shown confident leadership and rare ability that make it likely he will overcome his current dip. Paul Doyle

64: Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United, Serbia; age 31; defender

In an age when top-class centre-backs are at a premium, Vidic stands out as probably the best in terms of pure defensive ability. Others may move more silkily, but as a craggy-faced holder of the line and, to use Sir Alex Ferguson's phrase, "a defender who can defend", Vidic stands alone. It is the curse of Vidic's type to be noticed more in their absence. This season Manchester United have conceded a goal every 63 minutes. With Vidic on the pitch it is every 91 minutes. Jonathan Wilson

63: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Schalke, Holland; age 29; forward

"I think you could behead Klaas and he'd still score goals." So said Schalke team-mate Lewis Holtby, paying tribute to Huntelaar's scoring knack. Louis van Gaal is another admirer, claiming Huntelaar is the best in the world in the penalty area. Forty-eight goals from 47 matches last season helps his case. A slow starter before he kicked on at Ajax, he has found his stride. With six months on his deal, Premier League teams are hovering. Amy Lawrence

62: David Villa, Barcelona, Spain; age 31; forward

Top scorer at Euro 2008, top scorer at the 2010 World Cup, top scorer in Spain's international history. For years David Villa had one thing going against him: he did not play for one of the big two. Then, in 2010, he joined Barcelona. A year later he was scoring in the European Cup final. Injury and submission to the supremacy of Lionel Messi have blunted his edge of late but few strikers boast his skill, touch, and efficiency in front of goal. Sid Lowe

61: Ramires, Chelsea, Brazil; age 25; midfielder

To dismiss this energetic Brazilian as a mere workhorse would be foolish. Breaking up play is so very easy for him to do but Ramires offers much more besides, such as penetration, vision and subtlety. All of which were memorably showcased by his wonderful lobbed goal for Chelsea at the Camp Nou in last season's Champions League semi-final as Barcelona were memorably dispatched from the competition on their own turf. Paul Doyle

60: Marouane Fellaini, Everton, Belgium; age 25; midfielder

Fellaini's father, Abdellatif, was determined to help his son become a footballer and had Marouane run to school rather than taking the bus (Abdellatif was behind him, on a bicycle, with a stopwatch). Marouane played for Anderlecht and Mons before signing his first professional contract with Standard Liège at 17. Three years later he moved to Everton – still with his best years ahead. Key member of a talented Belgium squad. Marcus Christenson

59: James Rodríguez, Porto, Colombia; age 21; midfielder

Behold the latest proof of Porto's astonishing capacity to seamlessly replace stars. The departure of Hulk to Zenit St Petersburg gave him the chance to shine, even though he had already enjoyed some moments in the limelight, such as when he scored a hat-trick in the 2010 Portuguese Cup final. A canny passer and tricky runner, he has piqued the interest of some of the world's biggest clubs, including Manchester United. Paul Doyle

58: Eden Hazard, Chelsea, Belgium; age 21; midfielder

The Belgian made his debut for Lille when 16 and later became their talisman, as his dashing dribbles, shooting and vision guided the club to the French title in 2011 and twice made him Ligue 1's player of the year. That he achieved those feats while also being the league's most fouled player attests to the toughness of a player who is still only 21. Chelsea paid £32m for him in the summer and no one suggests he was overpriced. Paul Doyle

57: Arturo Vidal, Juventus, Chile; age 25; midfielder

Andrea Pirlo is the face of Juventus, but another midfielder signed in 2011 has had a similarly dramatic impact on their fortunes. Arturo Vidal's goals against Chelsea in the Champions League have raised the player's international profile, but Juve fans had long been aware of his qualities as a powerful box-to-box midfielder and accomplished finisher. The less heralded work he does winning possession is just as impressive. Paolo Bandini

56: Mario Gomez, Bayern Munich, Germany; age 27; forward

There are few, if any, better "orthodox" No9s than this 6ft 2in striker. Gomez is strong in the air, shoots with both feet and has a Gerd Müller-type knack of popping up in the right place at the right moment. Three goals at Euro 2012 meant he finally displaced Miroslav Klose as Germany's preferred centre-forward, too. If he was slightly more elegant, and wasted fewer chances, he would be appreciated even more. Raphael Honigstein

55: Jordi Alba, Barcelona, Spain; age 23; defender/midfielder

For an aspiring footballer the moment of being released by Barcelona from their esteemed youth academy at the age of 16 must be a crushing blow. Jordi Alba moved to UE Cornellà, a modest Catalan club who play at a ground that holds 1,500 spectators, and after slipping down the snake he began energetically climbing ladders all the way back to the Camp Nou. He rejoined Barça last summer after effervescent displays for Spain at Euro 2012. Amy Lawrence

54: Samuel Eto'o, Anzhi Makhachkala, Cameroon; age 31; forward

The Cameroon striker seems almost to have been forgotten since he moved to Anzhi but a player who was central to Barcelona and Internazionale's success has not become a bad player just because he's now scoring in the Russian league. Eto'o is 31 years old and remains as sharp as ever. He's versatile as well: having operated as the main striker at Barça and Inter, he has tended to operate almost as a playmaker as Anzhi hunt a first league title. Jonathan Wilson

53: Toni Kroos, Bayern Munich, Germany; age 22; midfielder

Kroos's performance in Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid last season was incredible. He dominated a midfield littered with the continent's finest footballers. His tactical understanding of the game is extraordinary – few other players have such a fine appreciation of space, or vary their position so instinctively and effectively. His attitude has been questioned, but Kroos is unquestionably a sublime talent. Michael Cox

52: Stephan El Shaarawy, Milan, Italy; age 20; forward

"Il Faraone" (the Pharoah) is an obvious nickname for an Italian international with an Egyptian father but that is about the only predictable aspect about a striker who has proven full of surprises in his short career. In addition to his direct, yet beguiling, dribbles and finishes that befuddle goalkeepers, the speed of his progression has taken people aback, as not many expected him to have achieved so much by the age of 20.

He made his Serie A debut at 16 for Chievo but did not feature for them after that before being loaned out to the lower league side Padova, where dazzling displays caught the attention of Milan in the summer of 2011. He confirmed his potential by scoring his first goal for the club the following September but he sparkled only intermittently after that and there was much debate at San Siro about his readiness for a regular starting place, with some suggesting he could gain more strength and savviness by being loaned out to another club for a season.

Eventually Milan judged that he was already good enough to grace the elite consistently and this season he has vindicated them in style, effortlessly filling the void left by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. His spectacular solo goal against Zenit St Petersburg in October two weeks before his 20th birthday made him the youngest player to score for the club in the Champions League and he has continued that form domestically, at the time of writing the leading scorer in Serie A with 14 goals from 17 matches.

At ease either wide on the left or as a centre-forward, El Shaarawy seems destined to be a fixture of the Italy side for years. How Egypt must regret ignoring him before he declared for the Azzurri. Paul Doyle

51: Marcelo, Real Madrid, Brazil; age 24; defender

Left-backs do not come much more enterprising than this Brazilian. Marcelo is a worthy heir to Roberto Carlos at Real Madrid, where he raids down the wing thanks to wonderful acceleration, sweet touches and jagged running, often concluding his bursts with decisive passes or shots. Thanks to rare speed, stamina and tackling, he can usually do all that and still perform his defensive duties, which is why he is first choice for club and country. Paul Doyle

50: Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus, Italy; age 28; defender

The emotional leader of a Juventus back-line that gave up 20 goals in 38 league games last season, Chiellini began his career at left-back but has since established himself as one of the finest central defenders of his generation. His attempt to play through injury backfired for Italy in the final of Euro 2012 – beaten for Spain's first goal, he then limped off after 20 minutes – but he has continued to excel for club and country. Paolo Bandini

49: Didier Drogba, Shanghai Shenhua, Ivory Coast; age 34; forward

Since he always played with a sense of drama, it was fitting that Drogba's Chelsea career would have a Hollywood ending. That said, his role in the Champions League triumph was defined as much by his indefatigable power play in the knockout rounds as it was by his theatrically charged spot-kick in the final. Recently voted Chelsea's greatest ever player, he has been missed since his move to China, supposedly for the (ahem) challenge. Amy Lawrence

48: Carlos Tevez, Manchester City, Argentina; age 28; forward

Take away the silly feuds with Sir Alex Ferguson and Gary Neville, and the five-month golfing holiday after the Munich tantrum (where the forward refused to warm up), and you are left with a rather sublime footballer. Tevez, who grew up on the mean streets of Fuerte Apache in Buenos Aires province, blends dizzying skills with (controlled) rage on the pitch like no other player at his level. No wonder City fans welcomed him back with open arms. Raphael Honigstein

47: Angel di María, Real Madrid, Argentina; age 24; midfielder

The International Olympic Committee won't let you watch a YouTube clip of the goal with which Di María won the gold medal for Argentina in Beijing, which is a pity since the winger's chip over the Nigerian goalkeeper was a gem. Having begun his career with Rosario Central, the club supported by Che Guevara, Di María moved first to Benfica and thence to the Bernabéu, where he ranks second only to Cristiano Ronaldo as an attacking force. Richard Williams

46: Carles Puyol, Barcelona, Spain; age 34; defender

With the flowing locks of a Pre-Raphaelite angel and the face of a back-alley assassin, Puyol is the standing reproach to those who think that the modern Barcelona team is constructed solely of moondust and cobwebs. If the world were a fairer place, the Catalan club's captain would have spent the past few years vying for international player of the year awards with his club-mates Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. They, above all, understand his value. Richard Williams

45: Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund, Germany; age 24; defender

How Bayern Munich must regret loaning Mats Hummels to Dortmund in 2009. The young defender had failed to break into the first team – "I was the third-choice centre-back but when one of the first two got injured I still wasn't picked" – and he did not hesitate over a permanent move. And that was despite his father working for Bayern at the time. Now he is the natural leader of the German champions and the national team, his Beckenbauer-esque playing style a joy to behold. Marcus Christenson

44: Petr Cech, Chelsea, Czech Republic; age 30; goalkeeper

Chelsea's Champions League triumph could so easily have been derailed without the countless interventions of their No1. Cech rediscovered his finest form last season: angles were narrowed, spaces cut out, opportunities thwarted with a telescopic arm or leg. The Czech was dominant, determined, and awe-inspiring. Of all the Roman Abramovich purchases, few have represented such value for money as £7m Cech. At 30, he could still be Chelsea's keeper for years. Amy Lawrence

43: Dani Alves, Barcelona, Brazil; age 29; defender

For many years considered the best right-back in the world, Dani Alves's stock has fallen in the past 12 months. He is still a good player but injuries have taken a toll and he is not a certain starter at Barcelona. Could well leave Catalonia next summer and possibly move back to Brazil with a home World Cup ahead. He won't be short of offers. Told the Guardian this year that he "loves" Gareth Bale: "He is so Brazilian." Marcus Christenson

42: Daniele De Rossi, Roma, Italy; age 29; midfielder

Luis Enrique used De Rossi as a deep-lying playmaker, his successor, Zdenek Zeman, believes he is a box-to-box midfielder, while the Italy coach, Cesare Prandelli, solved an injury problem at Euro 2012 by putting him at centre-back. An incredibly fierce competitor and a fine technician, De Rossi is a fantastic all-rounder. Harmed his reputation by punching a Lazio player in a recent Rome derby, but his pure ability and influence is unquestionable. Michael Cox

As he approaches his fifth decade and closes in on his 600th Serie A appearance, the versatile Argentinian remains the captain and linchpin of the Internazionale team. Born in Dock Sud, a tough seafront quarter of Buenos Aires, he still competes with a tigerish authority. Surely the only sadness in his career is that his long international career has not lasted long enough for him to take part in a World Cup on South American soil. Richard Williams